Asia-Pacific Aces Surge into Contention

Carnoustie, Scotland: Korean Kim Sei-young leads a strong Asia-Pacific presence into the weekend at the AIG Women’s Open.

The world number four added a 71 to her opening 67 at Carnoustie to claim a share of third place at the half-way stage of the event that is jointly led by England’s Georgia Hall and American Mina Harigae on seven-under 137.

Also firmly in contention are reigning US Open Women’s champion Yuko Saso of the Philippines, Thais Moriya Jutanugarn and Wichanee Meechai, Korean Noh Yealimi (all 139), Australians Su Oh and Minjee Lee and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno (all 140).

Other Asia-Pacific players to make the cut which came at one-over 145 include Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (142), Australians Steph Kyriaciou (142) and Hannah Green (143), Thais Ariya Jutanugarn (142), Patty Tavatanakit (143) and Atthaya Thitikul (144) and Indian Aditi Ashok (145).

Kim Sei-young said: “I love this golf course. I got to come out here before the Scottish Open last week and it was great. I just really like being on the ground and it’s got a really nice atmosphere, too, with the crowds.”

The 25-year-old Hall was among the early starters who took advantage of calm conditions over the Angus links to sign for a three-under 69. The 2018 champion at Royal Lytham & St Annes carded six birdies and recovered from a double-bogey at the 15th to take the English player to the top alongside Harigae.

From the third group of the day, Harigae also thrived and closed with four birdies in her last seven holes to sign for a 67. The Californian, 31, was runner-up in July’s Marathon LPGA Classic and is in form as she seeks a first main Tour win and to improve on her best finish in the Championship, a tie for 28th in 2018.

With joint overnight leader and world number one Nelly Korda slipping to a one-over-par 73 for a four-under total, it’s a congested leaderboard going into the weekend.

Amateur Louise Duncan, playing with Hall, continued to cheer the home fans as the Scot, 21, comfortably made the cut on three-under-par and leads the chase for the Smyth Salver as top amateur – ahead of Lauren Walsh and Annabell Fuller on one-under-par and level-par respectively.

But Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani, winner of April’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, missed out after adding a 75 to her opening-round 76.

Megan Khang produced the low round of the week, a six-under-par 66, to surge through the field and reach one-under-par, making the cut by two shots.

The top 65 and ties progressed to the weekend on one-over-par, with defending champion Sophia Popov among those to miss out on three-over.

Dame Laura Davies, 57, can look forward to the final 36 holes after finishing on level-par thanks to a fine two-under-par 70, which featured seven birdies.